when failing a set, do you rest and finish it out?

[Shadow (Clyde)]

Doing SS.

Sometimes when I bump up a weight, I have a hard time finishing out the third set. I might get to third rep and feel like the next one is a 50/50, so I don't chance it.

Question: Should I just call it a day for that exercise then and try it again next time around in 4 days (2 days in case of squat?)? Or do I give it a minute or two, then finish out the set with the last two reps?\

I was just curious how you guys tackle this specifically.... when not able to finish out th requisite number of reps in a set if you finish it out after rest or just move onto next exercise.

 

[DrBdan]

Just call it a day and try again next time.

 

[jrams]

If I fail then I mark it zero and try it again next time. If I am hesitant, I take a small break to catch my breath then finish it out.

 

[toonie]

I think if you're 50/50 on a rep, you should go for it. If you fail, it's no big deal. You have to learn to push yourself and you'll often be surprised by how hard your body can be pushed.

 

[gspieler]

Isn't missing reps kind of the sign that its time to move on from SS to something designed for a more intermediate lifter?

 

[TeddyRoosevelt]

Failing reps does not make you an intermediate lifter.

 

[Tosa]

Isn't missing reps kind of the sign that its time to move on from SS to something designed for a more intermediate lifter?

Not being able to add weight, even after reducing the weight and working your way back up is the sign to move on. If you can still regularly add weight, it doesn't matter if you miss reps here and there.

 

[Cygnus-X]

Isn't missing reps kind of the sign that its time to move on from SS to something designed for a more intermediate lifter?

One bad day should not dictate how you will handle the next several months of training.

 

[NurseKnuckles]

I think if you're 50/50 on a rep, you should go for it. If you fail, it's no big deal. You have to learn to push yourself and you'll often be surprised by how hard your body can be pushed.

Yup. Stop being a pussy.

 

[LatFlare]

keep going, take a longer rest between the next set, drop 2.5kg off the bar, whatever. if i've got 15 reps planned for today, i want to hit them.

 

[apizur**]

I just log that I failed and push for better numbers next time.

If I'm feeling crazy or have hit the same failing point twice in a row.... I'll ask my spotter to help me with some negative reps.

 

[Noquarter]

I usually wouldn't sacrifice my form/safety for an additional rep. But yeah, there are days that I'd really go for it.

 

[redaxe]

Sometimes on bench I will go for a set of 5, but after 3 I'm not sure if I can hit 2 more. So I rack it, rest a minute or two and then do the other 2 reps. Basically, if I hit a real grinder of a rep, I will anticipate that I might fail the next rep, so I will stop and rest a bit, and then finish. I usually bench in my garage alone, so I won't attempt a rep I don't know for sure I can hit.

On deadlifts, if I fail a rep I'm done lifting for the day. I've never failed a rep when doing multi-rep sets, only on PR attempts. I've tried resting and attempting it again, but it never works. If you fail a PR deadlift attempt, you're spent and it is time to go home.

I've never failed a squat. If I did, I'd probably also be done for the day. Too much of a pain in the ass to strip the bar, re-rack it and load it again. And I'd probably be pretty tired afterward if I actually put enough weight on my back to get buried by it. With high-rep sets I always seem to be able to find enough in the tank for one more rep, but I stop because I feel my form breaking down.

 

[Fighting Sprite]

Coming back for one extra rep that you didn't get in the previous set seems like you are too focused on some number. The exact number of reps you hit on a given day isn't that important, it's just work.

 

[lpaulgib]

I disagree with some of these responses. When it happens to me I will stop that set short. Then I'll rest and do one more set to finish those missed reps plus one extra just to finish mentally strong. Next week I'll stick at that weight and try to nail those reps with a purpose.

Im not advocating doing anything to hurt yourself. Most the time when I miss reps its technique failure, mental issues, or a bad day at the gym. It's almost never just too much weight.

 

[Midnighter]

Finish it.

Use the same weight for the next workout.

 

[Cratos]

Doing SS.

Sometimes when I bump up a weight, I have a hard time finishing out the third set. I might get to third rep and feel like the next one is a 50/50, so I don't chance it.

Question: Should I just call it a day for that exercise then and try it again next time around in 4 days (2 days in case of squat?)? Or do I give it a minute or two, then finish out the set with the last two reps?\

I was just curious how you guys tackle this specifically.... when not able to finish out th requisite number of reps in a set if you finish it out after rest or just move onto next exercise.

1. Next time it's 50/50, try pushing yourself and chancing it.

2. If you have to do a set of 5, but do three reps and then need to re rack the bar before you can finish the last two, that's not a set of 5. It's a set of three, followed by a set of two.

 

[redaxe]

1. Next time it's 50/50, try pushing yourself and chancing it.

2. If you have to do a set of 5, but do three reps and then need to re rack the bar before you can finish the last two, that's not a set of 5. It's a set of three, followed by a set of two.

Deep thoughts by Cratos.

 

[Cratos]

Deep thoughts by Cratos.

All I got when reading your post in this thread was excuses, laziness, and finding ways to not push yourself..

I think I prefer my approach to lifting weights to yours.

 

[Pearse Shields]

I failed a rep today, then I had a rest, got in the right frame of mind, and hit the next rep properly.

A failed rep means you failed that rep. It doesn't mean you're done for the day.